Display apparatus.



0. A. LINDEMAN &-F. M. PRBED. DISPLAY APPARATUS.

-APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910. 995,359.

PatentedJune 13, 1911.

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0. A. LINDEMAN & F. M. FREED.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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SS PAT ENT OFFICE.

OTTO A. LINDEMAN AND FRED 1V[. FREED, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No. 548,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OTTO A. LINDE-MAN and FRED M. FREED, citizens of the United States, residing in Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a display apparatus and particularly to a device of this class which is adapted to guide and hold a plurality of negative plates or photographs and which operates to expose the said plates or photographs in succession.

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of the mechanism and to construct the device so that it may be 0perated with a greater or less number of plates as may be desired.

In the annexed drawing which fully illustrates our invention, Figure l is a front elevation of the frame and the mechanism of a machine constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the forward part of the mechanism being shown in section. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the left side of the mechanism as viewed in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line Pt of Fig. 1. Fig. .5 is a horizontal section taken near the rear end of the mechanism, illustrating a part of the means for advancing the plates in the magazine. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the end of a push rod which advances the plates at the rear end of the magazine illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the construction of the corresponding device at the forward end of the magazine. Fig.8 is a front elevation of a guide for the flexible bar which separates the two banks of plates from each other.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the mechanism, it may facilitate the disclosure to state that the mechanism operates to support the plates in the magazine in two sets or banks disposed along the side of each other. In one of these banks the plates are being fed forwardly and in the other bank they are being fed rearwardly. The plates on the bank which are moved forwardly are advanced one at a time into a lateral position to expose them in succession. After being exposed they are withdrawn and returned to the magazine.

Referring now particularly to the parts, 8 represents a bottom or floor of the case or box in which the mechanism is held. In this case there is mounted a forward fixed frame 9 and a rear fixed frame 10. These frames are disposed parallel with each other and are connected at a low level by a cradle formed of four cradle bars 11 which are disposed parallel with each other and in a horizontal plane. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, these bars are arranged in pairs, the bars which form the left pair being indicated by the numeral 11 while the bars which form the right pair are indicated by the numeral 11 The frames 9 and 10 are connected at their ends by guide bars 12 and 13. The bar 12 being disposed to the left and guide bar 13 being disposed at the right.

Mounted to slide on the guide bars 12 and 13 on the cradle bars 11 we provide an adjustable frame 14. The ends of this frame are adapted to be secured to the guide bars 12 and 13 by set screws 15 as shown. The bars 11 and 11 form a bed for supporting all the plates.

The forward frame 9 is formed on its upper side with a U frame 16 having a cross bar or sill 17 in which the forward ends of the cradle bars 11 are attached, as indicated in Fig. 4. Adjacent the sill 17 the lower. bar 18 of the forward frame 9 is cut away so as to form a gap or opening. Into this gap or opening a dog 19' projects upwardly, the lower portion of this dog being secured to the block- 21, which is attached to a push rod 22 by a set screw 23, as shown. This construction is shown in detail in Fig. 7. On its forward face the dog 19 has a horizontal arm 24. attached thereto which bridges the gap between the bar 17 and the bar 18, and the upper face of this arm is flush with the bar 17 so that a plate sliding across the sill can slide onto the arm 24 and be supported thereby. As indicated in Fig. 2, in the normal position of the dog 19 its forward edge is in alinement with the inner edge 24 of the left leg 25 of the U frame. On the bar 18 opposite the bar 17, a U-shaped guide channel 26 is formed, which has a flange 27 on its inner side, and this flange 27 forms a stop for each plate as it comes forward through the U frame 16.

The outer side of the channel 26 is formed by a flange 28, which extends continuously throughout the entire length of the bar 18.

As shown in Fig. 2, the frame 9 has a projecting extension or exposing holder 29, and behind this exposing holder, a lamp 30 may be placed when transparencies are being used as plates. The lower part of this extension is formed with an upwardly pro jecting inner flange 31 and the aforesaid flange 28 runs out into the extension, as shown. In addition to this, the end of the extension is formed with a vertical flange 32 at the rear side, and a vertical flange at the forward side. Corresponding to the flange 28 there is provided a flange 34 on the upper edge of the extension and this flange 34 extends continuously along the upper edge of'the upper bar 35 of the frame 9.

Opposite the flange 27 and opposite the U frame 16 a flange 36 forms a stop for the upper edge of each plate as it comes through the U frame, but this flange does not extend beyond the U frame. Behind the flanges 28 and 34, leaf springs 37 are attached, said springs being in the form of bows having their convex sides disposed forwardly and attached at one end only, as shown at 38. Their free ends are formed into shoes 39, which slide on either side of the flange 31 at the bottom of the extension frame and a similar flange at the upper edge thereof. The function of these springs is to force the plate forwardly when received from the dog 19 so that the plate will be forced against the flanges 28 and 34. In this way, the plate will be held before the lamp 30 and exposed to view.

As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the block 21 has an upward extension or arm 40, and on the upper end of this arm a feed pawl 41 is pivotally attached, this pawl projects across the upper edge of the flange 28, and it is held in a projecting position by means of a spring 42 as indicated in Fig. 2 being held against a suitable stop on its rear side, as shown, this pawl 41 is disposed near the left side of the U frame 16, opposite the other side of the U frame 16 a similar pawl 43 is provided held back by a spring 44 attached on the block 45, which block is at tached on the inner end of the push rod 22, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. Adjacent this point, the frame bar 18 is provided with a foot 46 which formed a guide bearing for the push rod, as shown. This foot is attached to the upper side of the bottom 8 of the case, as indicated. It should be understood that the pawl 43 is arranged like the pawl 41, so that it tends normally to project across the upper edge of the flange 28.

As shown in Fig. 1 the push rod 22 is guided at its left side through a foot 47 similar to the foot 46 and it extends a considerable distance toward the left. On its left end there is attached a bracket 48 which extends downwardly and has a horizontal link 49 secured thereto, as shown. This link 49 is attached to the upper end of the rock frame 50, the lower edge of which is mounted to rock upon suitable bearings 51 on the lower floor 52 of the case. The construction of this rock frame is shown in Fig. 3. It comprises an axle bar 53 of anglular form, the ends of which are reduced to form necks 54 rotatably mounted in the bearings 51, as indicated. On this axle bar 53 there is mounted a main arm 55 which extends upwardly adjacent to the face of the cam wheel 56, and the side of this arm 55 is provided with a roller 57 which runs in a cam slot 58 in the face of the cam 56. This slot 58 has a form which periodically rocks the frame 50 inwardly and then returns it to its normal position, in which it is shown in Fig. 1. Opposite the main arm 55 there is provided an auxiliary or adjustable arm 59 which is similar to the arm 55 but is .adapted to slide on the axle 53 so as to be secured thereto in any adjusted position desired by means of a set screw 60 placed in the lower part of the arm 59, as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the adjustable frame 14, this frame is of substantially rectangular form and its lower bar 61 is provided with three downwardly projecting bearing lugs 62, 63 and 64. The lug 62 is disposed at the right side while the lug 64 is disposed at the left and the lug 63 is disposed at an intermediate point and in line with the vertical bar 25 of the U frame 16. In these lugs 62, 63 and 64, a guide bar 65 is mounted to slide longitudinally and this guide bar extends outwardly the same distance as the push bar 22. Its outer end is provided with a bracket 66 which extends upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. In the upper part of this bracket 66 is attached the end of a rear push rod 67, and the inner end of this push rod is guided through the left bar 68 of the adjustable frame as indicated in Fig. 5. The end of this push rod 67, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 6 is bent upwardly to form a dog 69, which is adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the rearmost plate lying adjacent to the dog so as to enable the plate to be shoved over from the adjacent bank of plates to the other bank, as indicated in Fig. 5. This push rod 67 is adapted to be actuated by a rock frame 50 and for this Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 to the rear side of the vertical bar 25 of the U frame 16 we attach a flexible dividing rail 71 which is in the form of a thin band, or tap of steel of similar durable material. This band extends rearwardly from the forward frame in a horizontal direction and passes over the upper edge of a guide shoe 72 illustrated in Fig. 8. This guide shoe guides the tape downwardly in a vertical direction at the adjustable frame and so that the tape passes in a loop 7 3 under the lug 63, which is rounded for this purpose. From the lug 63 the tape extends rearwardly inclining upwardly having its rear end attached at 74 to the under side of the rear frame 10. In this way the rail presents an elevated extension forward of the shoe 72 and a depressed extension to the rear of the shoe. The rear face of the guide shoe 72 is removed slightly from the plane of the forward side of the lower bar 61 of the adj ustable frame and in the foot 75 of the shoe a vertical slot 76 is formed through which it passes downwardly. The foot 75 of the shoe projects laterally at each side and is secured to the bar 61 by suit-able fastening devices 77, as shown. This arrangement for supporting the flexible rail 71 permits the adjustable frame to be moved forwardly or rearwardly to suit the number of plates, which are mounted in the machine. At the point where the rail passes between the banks of plates at the right, it will be observed that the tape is depressed under the adjustable frame so as to permit a lateral movement of the rearmost plate of the left bank under the action of the push rod 67, as indicated in Fig. 5.

At the left side of the machine a feed rod 78 is mounted, its ends being arranged to slide in the left ends of the frames 9 and 10. Its forward end projects from the forward frame, as indicated in Fig. 3, and is provided with a bracket 79 which projects downwardly, and to the lower end of this bracket a short link 80 is attached. This link 80 extends in a horizontal direction and its forward end is connected to a cam lever 81. This cam lever extends upwardly at the side of the cam 56 and the adjacent face of the cam 56 is provided with a cam slot 82 in which is received a roller 83 mounted on the side of the lever 81. From this arrangement, as the cam rotates the cam lever 81 will be rocked backward'and forward. Adjacent to the bracket 79 the feed rod 78 is provided with a rigid arm Set which projects out in front of the left end of the forward frame and to the end of this arm there is attached a feed plate 85 which may be of square form as shown. Near the rear end of the feed rod 78 and adjacent to the adjustable frame 14c the feed rod is provided with an adjustable collar 86, which is adapted to be secured by means of a set screw 87, and to this collar 86 is attached by a loose pivot connection a feed lever 88, having its fulcrum on a bracket 89 attached to the frame near the middle thereof. The free end of the lever carries pivotally, a feed plate 90, which is supported at the right side of the adjustable frame and behind the right bank of plates, as indicated in Fig. 5. From this arrangement it should be understood that when the feed rod 7 8 slides rearwardly the plate 85 will push the left bank of plates rearwardly while the feed plate 90 will push the right bank of plates forwardly.

In order to drive the cam 56 the shaft 91 of the cam is provided with a gear wheel 92 which meshes with a pinion 93, and this pinion is mounted on the shaft 9 1 of a motor 95. This motor 95 may be an electric motor or it may be actuated by any other means.

Referring now again to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the rear side of the adjustable frame 14 is provided with a flange 96, which extends continuously around the rectangular opening in this frame and forms a rear stop to limit the backward movement of the banks of plates.

Referring to Fig. 1 it should be observed that when the rod 69 is in its normal position it withdraws into an opening indicated at 97 so that the forward face of the dog is substantially flush with the inner edge of the vertical bar 68 at the left of the adjustable frame.

Attention is called to the fact that the upper sides of the cradle bars 11 are all flush with the upper faces of the lower bars 18 and 61 of the frames 9 and 14. This arrangement enables the plates to be shoved on or off the ends of the cradle bars at the ends of the banks of plates.

As indicated in Fig 4- the bar 35 of the forward frame 9 is provided on its under and rear side with small leaf springs 35' and 85 The spring 35 projects over the upper edge of the foremost plate B in the left bank and acts as a detent to hold the plate up when the feed plate 85 is not in contact therewith. As indicated. in Fig. 1, the spring 355 performs a similar function with respect to the foremost plate of the right bank of plates, to prevent it from falling forward, when the dog 19 passes beyond the right edge of the bank, as it does in shifting the plate to be exposed out into the exposing frame. On the upper bar of the frame 1 1 similar spring detents 1 1 and 1A are provided which project forwardly and engage the upper edges of the rearmost plates of the banks so as to prevent them from falling rearwardly when left unsupported by other parts of the mechanism.

The general mode of operation of the machine will now be described.

Referring especially to Fig. 5, the plates 6 are disposed in two banks, the left bank being supported on the cradle bars ll while the right bank is supported on the cradle bars 11". The two banks are separated by the flexible rail 71. The left bank of plates nearly fills the space between the flange 34 of the forward frame and the flange 96 of the rear frame there being a space equal to thickness of a plate at the forward end. The right bank of plates nearly fills the space between the rear flange 96 and the flange 27 so that the foremost plate is supported on the arm 24, which forms a part of the dog 19. In addition to this there will be a plate disposed at the right of the pawl 43 between this pawl and the right vertical edge of the forward frame, this latter plate being held against the flange 33, the flange 28 and flange 34 by the springs 37. As the cam 56 rotates the rock frame is rocked toward the right and then toward the left. As the rock frame 50 moves toward the right, the pawls 41 and 43 advance toward the right and the pawl 41 moves to the normal location of the pawl 43 so as to engage the plate which normally lies between the two pawls 42 and 43, while the pawl 43 advances so as to engage the right edge of the plate which is exposed at the exposing holder. In order to enable the pawl 43 to engage the edge of this plate, the flange 33 is formed with a notch 33 as indicated in Fig. 1. At the same time, this forward movement of the push bar 22 through the operation of the dog 19 advances the foremost plate in the right bank so as to move it out into the exposing holder. This same inward movement of the rocking frame 50 moves the rear push rod 67 so that its dog 69 advances the rearmost plate of the left bank across the rear of the right bank of plates, as indicated in Fig. 5. The feed plate 90 is normally held withdrawn by the lever 88. This enables the plate a, which is being shifted at the rear of the banks, to pass in front of the feed plate 90. In Fig.2 the feed plate is shown in its withdrawn position and when the feed plate 90 is withdrawn in this manner the feed plate 85 is also withdrawn, as indicated in Fig. 2. On the return movement of the push bar 22, the pawl 41 slides a plate over in the rear of the feed plate 85 and the pawl 43 takes the plate that has just been exposed and moves it into position in front of the right bank of plates and in front of the flange 27. The feed rod 78 then moves rearwardly so that the feed plate 85 pushes the left bank of plates rearwardly to bring the rearmost plate against the flange 96. This movement is accompanied by a forward movement of the feed plate 90, which advances the entire right bank of plates so as to bring the foremost plate against the flanges 27 and 36. In this way when the machine is in operation it will be seen that the left bank of plates is constantly being fed rearwardly with a step by step movement through a distance equal to one plate and the right bank of plates is similarly fed forwardly, the push rod 67, working at the rear of the banks, periodically shifts the rearmost plate from the left bank to the right while the push rod 22 at the front is operating to push plates one by one out to the exposing frame and also withdrawing the plate which has just been exposed.

Special attention is called to the adjustable construction of the machine, that is, the adjustable frame which can be moved rearwardly or forwardly so as to enable the machine to operate with a small number or a large number of plates. This is a highly advantageous feature, for one set of plates can be quickly substituted for another and the machine will continue to operate wit-h the same efficiency whatever be the number of plates in the substituted set.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fixed forward frame, a 'fixed rear frame, a cradle connecting said fixed frames and adapted to support the plates in two banks, an adjustable frame sliding along said cradle between said fixed frames, a member extending longitudinally from said adjustable frame to said forward fixed frame and guiding the adjacent side edges of said plates, means for advancing the plates from one of said banks one at a time to expose the same, means for shifting the plates laterally between said banks at said forward frame, and means for shifting the plates laterally between said banks at said adjustable frame.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination a fixed frame, an adjustable frame adapted to recede from or approach said fixed frame, means for supporting plates in two banks at the same level between said frames, a member having a longitudinally disposed elevated extension between the said frames and separating the said banks of plates, means for advancing plates from one of said banks one at a time to expose the same, means for shifting the plates laterally between said banks beyond said extension, and means for giving the plates of each of said banks a periodical feeding movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fixed frame, an adjustable frame, means for supporting plates in two parallel banks extending from said fixed frame to said adjustable frame, a feed plate adapted to engage the foremost plate of one of said banks, a second feed plate adapted to engage the rearmost plate of the other bank, means for periodically actuating said feed plates to move said banks bodily, means for advancing plates one by one laterally from one of said banks to expose the same, means for returning each plate after exposure, to the other bank, and a flexible member connecting said frames and separating said banks of plates.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fixed frame, an adjustable frame, means for supporting plates in two banks, a flexible rail connecting said frames and separating said banks of plates, said rail being guided on said adjustable frame so that it may be paid out as said frames are separated further to accommodate a greater number of plates, means for shifting the plates one by one from one of said banks to the other, and means for exposing said plates one at a time.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pair of fixed frames, an adjustable frame mounted therebetween and adapted to recede or advance toward either of said fixed frames, means for supporting plates in two banks between one of said frames and said adjustable frame, a flexible band attached to said fixed frames, means for guiding said flexible band on said adjustable frame so as to hold said band at an elevated point between said banks and so as to depress said band at the rear of said banks, means for shifting the plates one by one from one of said banks to the other at the rear thereof, and means for exposing the plates one by one.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a forward frame having an extension forming an exposing holder, an adjustable frame, means for supporting plates in two banks between said frames, one of said banks being adjacent to said exposing frame and the other of said banks being remote therefrom, means for advancing the plates one by one from said adjacent bank into said exposing frame, means for returning said plates one by one from said exposing frame to said remote bank, means for shifting the rearmost plate of said bank to the rear of said adjacent bank, and means for periodically feeding said adjacent bank forwardly and said remote bank rearwardly.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fixed forward frame, a fixed rear frame, an adjustable frame mounted bet-ween said fixed frames, means for supporting a plurality of plates arranged in two banks between said forward frame and said adjustable frame, said forward frame having an exposing extension at one side thereof, means for shifting the plates from one of said banks one by one into said exposing extension, and means for returning said plates one by one to the other bank, and feeding means for shifting said banks bodily through a space equal to the thickness of one of said plates.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a forward fixed frame, a rear fixed frame, an adjustable frame mounted between said fixed frames, means for supporting two banks of plates between said forward frame and said adjustable frame, said forward frame having an exposing extension, means for advancing the foremost plate of the bank adjacent to said exposing extension into said exposing extension, means for advancing the exposed plates in front of said adjacent bank and into position before the bank remote from said exposing extension, a feed plate disposed adjacent to the forward plate of the bank remote from said exposing extension, a second feed plate adjacent the rearmost plate of the bank adjacent to said exposing extension, means at the rear of said banks for shifting the plates one by one from the bank remote from said extension to the bank adjacent thereto, and means for actuating said feed plates to feed said banks.

9. In a machine of the class described, a forward frame, means for supporting a bank of plates to the rear of said frame, means for feeding said bank of plates forward, said frame having a stop adapted to limit the forward movement of the foremosteplate of said bank, said frame also having an exposing extension, a dog ada'pted to engage the edge of the foremost plate of said bank, means for actuating said dog to advance said plate laterally into said exposing extension, and means for withdrawing said plate from said exposing extension.

10. In a machine of the class described, a forward frame, means for supporting a bank of plates to the rear of said frame,means for feeding said bank of plates forward, said bank having a stop adapted to limit the forward movement of the foremost plate of said bank, said frame having an exposing extension, a dog adapted to engage the edge of the foremost plate of said bank, means for actuating said dog to advance said plate laterally into said exposing extension, means for withdrawing said platefrom said exposing extension, said stop forming a guide for guiding the plate remote from said exposing extension across the front of said bank, and means for returning the plate to the remote end of said bank after exposure.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a forward frame, means for supporting a bank of plates to the rear of said forward frame, said frame having an exposing extension. projecting therefrom, said frame having a bar forming a guide for the lower edge of the foremost plate of said bank-and having a stop limiting the forward movement of the foremost plate of said bank, means engaging the edge of the said foremost plate remote from said extension and adapted to advance the same into said extension to expose the plate, means for engaging the outer edge of the exposed plate after exposure, and adapted to advance the same into position before said bank, means for advancin the plate from its position at the said ban I, and means for returning the plate thereafter to the rear of said bank.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fixed forward frame, a fixed rear frame, guide bars connected to said fixed frames, an adjustable frame mounted on said guide bars, means for supporting plates in two banks between said forward fixed frame and said adjustable frame, a forward push rod guided adjacent to said forward frame and adapted to advance the foremost plate of said bank laterally therefrom, means for holding said plate when advanced to expose the same, a rear push rod guided through said adjustable frame and adapted to shift the rearmost plate of one of said banks to a position behind the other of said banks, and means for returning the exposed plate.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a forward fixed frame, a rear fixed frame, an adjustable frame mounted between said fixed frames, means for supporting plates in two banksbetween said forward frame and said adjustable frame, a flexible band attached to said for- Ward frame at an elevated point and attached to said rear frame at a depressed point, means on said adjustable frame for guiding said flexible band from a high level to a low level, means for advancing the plates one by one from one of said banks to expose the same, means for returning said plates to the other bank, and means for shifting plates between said banks.

14. In a machine of the class described in combination, a pair of frames, means for the same, means for returning the plates after exposure one by one to the other bank, means for feedlng one of said banks 111 one direction, means for feedlng the other of said banks in the opposite direction, means for shifting plates one by one from one of the banks to the other, and detent means at the ends of said banks adapted to support the end plates of said banks.

15. In a machine of the class described in combination, a forward fixed frame, an adjustable frame opposite thereto, plates arranged in two banks between said frames, springs on the upper portions of said frames adapted to engage the end plates of said banks, means for shifting the plates one by one from one of said banks to expose the same, means for returning each plate after exposure to the other bank, means for feeding one of said banks forwardly and the other of said banks rearwardly periodically, and means for shifting plates one by one between said banks at the rear end thereof.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 1st day of March, 1910.

OTTO A. LINDEMAN. FRED M. FREED.

Vitnesses F. D. AMMEN, EDMUND A. STRAUSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

